Teachers become students during summerThis summer marks the 14th year Arkansas Tech University (ATU) has been hosting Project Lead The Way (PLTW) teacher training since 2003, making it one of the first host colleges according to Victor Dreier with the STEM Institute at ATU. PLTW is a curriculum focusing on STEM topics for K-12 students. Throughout the summer, several interactive classes taught by master teachers from across the United States will be available for K-12 teachers at ...

Saturday evening altercation claims life of Atkins manPope County Sheriff Shane Jones released a statement Sunday, July 3, 2016, that an Atkins man, Larry DuVall, 43, sustained a gunshot wound Saturday evening and was later pronounced dead by Pope County Coroner Danny White. According to Jones, the Pope County 911 Dispatch Center received a call of an altercation and shooting at approximately 7:27 p.m. Saturday, July 2, 2016. Pope County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the 4000 block of State Hig...

Survival Flight Inc. to land in RussellvilleSurvival Flight Inc., an emergency medical helicopter transportation company based in Mesa, Arizona, is going to call Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center home later this month. The air ambulance service will provide a crew 24 hours a day, seven days a week at the hospital, as well as one Bell 407 helicopter. The company is dedicated to air medical transportation that is focused on the quality of care to patients and their safety with aviation...

Two local teens share unique hobbyClick, click, click. The sound of Rubik's Cubes being solved radiated in the background of a conversation between Jeremy Collins and Tyler Tracy. The two Russellville High School seniors have become close friends thanks to their fascination with solving the Rubik's Cube in a short amount of time -- also called speed cubing. Collins first became interested in cubing in 2013 when he saw a math video with random facts about the Rubik's Cube. "Aft...

Pair steal vehicle from wreckerDebbie C. Wyllia, 45, wanted to know why her bond was $5,000 -- double what deputy prosecuting attorney Steve Higgins recommended during felony bond hearings on Friday. Wyllia and Maria, K. Harrington, 35, appeared together before District Judge Don Bourne after being arrested by the Atkins Police Department for the alleged theft of a vehicle. "I have three children, and I have grandchildren," Wyllia told the judge. "I'm not a flight risk." "Y...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

In the courtsCivil cases The following civil cases were filed in Pope County Circuit Court from June 24-30: n Ocwen Loan Servicing LLC as agent and attorney in fact for Deutsche Bank National Trust Company as trustee for Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Capital Inc. Trust 2002-HE2 vs. Ramona L. Boquet and unknown spouse of Ramona L. Boquet. n The Bank of New York Mellon FKA The Bank of New York, as trustee for the certificate holders of the CW ABS, Inc., asset-b...

Pottsville hears updates from Municipal LeaguePOTTSVILLE — The Pottsville City Council met Monday to hear updates by the Municipal League from Mayor Jerry Williams, review resolutions under old business and discuss bidding procedures on chip and seal projects. Williams said he recently attended the Municipal League conference where a few updates were made. He informed the council Monday, one of the updates dealt with the Freedom of Information act (FOI). According to Williams, within the ...

Chocolate Fest to support three localsMany Arkansas River Valley residents will have the chance to buy one of their favorite candies to help save the life of not one, but three area residents at the third annual Chocolate Festival from 5-8:30 p.m. on July 15 at the Dardanelle Community Center. Admission for the public is $5. All proceeds from admissions and chocolate sales will go toward Bryce Bowden, Nikki Coffman and Sasha Belcher. "We couldn't choose just one person," Tanya Hen...

Mike Heath DARDANELLE -- Robert Michael HeathMike Heath DARDANELLE -- Robert Michael Heath, age 56 of Delaware, died Friday, July 1, 2016, at his home. He was born May 8, 1960, at Cape May, New Jersey to Robert E. Heath and Joyce Evelyn Wilker. He enjoyed being with his second family at Beezers. He was preceded in death by his mother, Joyce Heath. Survivors include his father, Robert Heath of Delaware; one daughter, Destiny Heath of Delaware; aunts and uncles, Judy and Keith Cravens of D...

Over 7,000 books read during SRPThe Summer Reading Program (SRP) at the Pope County Library kicked off the first day on June 4 and ended with a finale at the Hughes Center on Thursday with games and a drawing for one of six bookcases. Children celebrated the close of the SRP by playing a huge game of Jenga with soda cases, building speed boats out of tinfoil, a ball toss, door prize drawings and more. The Dover Lions Club donated six handmade and painted bookcases to be give...

Assessor hosts reappraisal Q&APope County Assessor Dana Baker hosted county residents to an informational luncheon Wednesday where they discussed reappraisals in Pope County, online assessing and Amendment 79 homestead credits. Baker said this was the end of a five-year cycle for property owner reappraisals, so all new values will go on Pope County's system in about a couple of weeks. "People who have had an increase in their property tax will receive a notice in the mail,...

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BY SEAN INGRAM
sean@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Authorities to ramp up efforts this weekendLITTLE ROCK -- Every year Americans hit the road headed for destinations to celebrate the Fourth of July at picnics, parties, parades and many other events. Unfortunately the celebrating includes drinking alcohol followed by drunk driving on streets and highways during this most heavily traveled holiday period. Nationwide there were 397 people killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2014 over the Fourth of July holiday period that covered five days...

Russellville Main Street hosts think tank — discovers much to do downtownSeveral residents of the community shared their thoughts and ideas on how to improve the downtown district at a think tank lunch hosted by Main Street Russellville on June 22 at the train depot. Main Street Russellville executive director Betsy McGuire discussed the overall purpose and vision of Main Street Russellville and noted four businesses will open in the downtown district near the first of July into August. She discussed the Depot Park...

As childhood diabetes rates rise, so do costsChildhood diabetes rates are on the rise, and a report released recently pointed to the impact that the cost of their care could have on families -- even those who have employer-sponsored health insurance. The study, conducted by the Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI), found that children as old as 18 with diabetes who were insured through an employer-sponsored plan racked up $2,173 per capita in out-of-pocket health care costs in 2014. That sp...

Children's Hospital benefit rodeo SaturdayAtkins Riding Arena will host the 26th annual Arkansas Children's Hospital Rodeo and Fireworks Show starting at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Atkins Riding Club Arena on Northeast 14th street. Events include sheep riding, Women's Steer Scramble, Steer Riding (14 and under), Sheep Scramble, Bronco and bull riding, team roping, and barrel racing and pickup. Admission is $7 for adults, $3 for children and children under the age of 6 will get in free....

Fresh, new lookRussellville City Corp. General Manager Steve Mallett said during Tuesday's debut of the water and sewer utility's new logo that the idea behind the company has not changed, but its image needed a fresher look. Mallett told the crowd gathered outside the headquarters at 205 W. Third Place that the mountains designed around the water meant to describe City Corp. as a more regional water and sewer company than just for the city of Russellville. ...

$300k bond set in early drug bustBond for Melissa D. Kizer, 37, was set at $300,000 during Wednesday's felony bond hearing after District Judge Don Bourne determined there was probable cause to hold her on charges of possession with purpose to deliver. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Steve Higgins recommended the amount because of prior convictions, probation/parole status and because he believed Kizer was involved in a methamphetamine operation. "She had all the operations of a ...

Report: Stabbing at Sunday partyCLARKSVILLE -- The Johnson County Sheriff's Department reported that Deputy Brent Scott responded Sunday to a call of a stabbing that took place at a party on Strawberry Loop in Clarksville. Deputy Scott met with the female victim before she was transported to a local hospital. During the investigation, a female, age 38, was arrested for aggravated assault and a male, age 41, was arrested for obstructing governmental operations. Lt. Jeff Wood ...

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Courier Staff ReportsThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley